Russia's War Against Ukraine
OP-ED
The Economist: An uneasy friendship
A Russian Il-78 aerial refueling tanker (top) and Russian Su-34 fighter bombers fly above Moscow's Red Square, on May 7, during a rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade.
The celebrations in Moscow on May 9th to commemorate the capitulation of Nazi Germany 70 years ago will speak volumes about today's geopolitics. While Western leaders are staying away in protest against Russia's aggression in Ukraine (and the first annexation of sovereign territory in Europe since the second world war), China's president, Xi Jinping, will be the guest of honour of his friend, Vladimir Putin. Western sanctions over Ukraine, and what looks set to be a long-term chilling of relations with America and Europe, has given Russia no option other than to embrace China as tightly as it can.
